HARRISON DIEMER, of Dakota Township, is the grandson of Henry Diemer and the son of Michael Diemer, both of whom were born in Bucks County, Pa. The great-grandfather, Henry Diemer, was the original founder of the family in this country, and came from Germany, making settlement in Bucks County before the war of the Revolution. Henry Diemer, Jr., was one of two sons born to Henry Diemer, Sr., who found a home in this country.

The family, it appears, came from that part of Germany which once belonged to France but has been restored to Germany. Henry Diemer, Jr., was by occupation a farmer, and he is the earliest member of the family of whom any authentic history is known to the subject of this biography. He went from Bucks County to Northampton County, Pa., shortly after his marriage, and there Michael Diemer, the father of our subject, was born. Henry Diemer, Jr., died in Northampton County where he had been an early settler, successful farmer, and thoroughly identified with the county. Michael Diemer was born, reared and married in Northampton County, his wife being Susan Rasley, also a native of Northampton County, of German descent. He came to Illinois with his family in 1847, locating first in Winnebago County, but later purchasing land which he farmed in Dakota Township, whence he went to Cedarville and died there in March, 1879, aged seventy-three. The mother had previously died in Winnebago County. The grandparents of our subject lived to be eighty-four years old.

Our subject is the oldest but one of a family of eight children, of whom five were sons and three daughters. Four sons and two daughters are still living, all married. Harrison Diemer’s birth occurred in Northampton County, Pa., Oct. 18, 1828. He was reared in Lowen, Mt. Bethel Township, came to Illinois with his father, and was married in Rock Run Township to Ann R. Etnyre, who was born in Washington County, Md., and came to Illinois with her father in 1838, settling first near Adeline, Ogle County, on a farm, where her parents died, and where she was reared and educated. Her grandparents had lived and died in Maryland. They were farmers and came to German ancestry. Mrs. D. is the mother of four children, two of whom are deceased. Luther M. is married to Miss Minnie Spackman, and now resides on a farm in this township; Walter married Miss Ella Askey, and lives on the homestead of Mr. Diemer. The deceased are Martha, who died at ten months, and Oscar, whose death occurred when he was four years old.

Since his marriage Mr. Diemer has been engaged in farming here, except for two years when he was a general merchant in Cedarville. Since 1857 he has lived on his present farm on section 27, in Dakota Township, where he owns 360 acres of land in a fine state of cultivation. He owns other timber lands, has good buildings on his farm, and is a thoroughly successful farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Diemer and two sons are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a Trustee. He is a Republican, and has held some of the township offices.

Contributed by Carole Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. 1888